Recent news is that the technology company, Apple, is ready to launch a new, touch-sensitive mini-laptop, probably named as the iSlate, possibly as soon as next month.

There are hopes that the launch of the new device could do the same for the ebook and netbook, what iPhone did to mobile phones, i.e. become the sole leader of the market.

This anticipation has pushed shares in the company to a record high of $209.06 on December 24, up 3.4pc on the day alone. The shares have more than doubled in the past year.

According to resources, the company is planning to launch a successor to the iPhone, a product that sits between an iPod Touch and a laptop, playing movies and music and serving some of the traditional functions of a mobile computer.

There have also been several reports that the company has held discussions with various newspaper groups, saying that it plans for the device to be used as a mobile news source.

The company has already had a marvelous year, recording a 47pc jump in the net income in its most recent quarter to $1.7bn (£1.1bn), on revenue of $36.5bn, in spite of the fact that the company failed to launch any major products in the period.

The tablet device is said to arrive by late-March or April.